Republicans are encouraged by the rise of democratic socialism — for a far different reason. They have seized on what they view as a leftward lurch by Democrats they predict will alienate voters this fall and in the 2020 presidential race.
The Democratic Party thinks their big battle this year is with the Republicans, but they couldn’t be more wrong. The wolf at the door for the Democrats are the Democratic Socialists of America, (DSA), and they are not just hot but absolutely on fire right now.
Bernie Sanders prepared the field during his 2016 run for president, and had collusion and conspiracy at the DNC not taken place to shut him out, Bernie would have been the Democratic nominee for president. But all the work he did is not in vain, as he laid the groundwork for current rising star of the DSA, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
In 2016, average membership in the DSA hovered right around 6,000 people. But in the time from Bernie Sanders’ run to the Ocasio-Cortez juggernaut, the DSA now reports that their rolls have swollen to over 45,000 and rising rapidly. That’s a 700% increase in a little less than 48 months.
DSA now has 46,000 members! Join today to fight for real change for working people, stand up against racism and xenophobia, and build a better future today. t.co/4J7oHpN8Tp pic.twitter.com/vAGtPV2MPS
— DSA 🌹 (@DemSocialists) July 20, 2018
FROM THE AP: There are 42 people running for offices at the federal, state and local levels this year with the formal endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America, the organization says. They span 20 states, including Florida, Hawaii, Kansas and Michigan. The most ambitious Democrats in Washington have been reluctant to embrace the label, even as they embrace the policies defining modern-day democratic socialism: Medicare for all, a $15 minimum wage, free college tuition and the abolition of the federal department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Congress’ only self-identified democratic socialist, campaigned Friday with the movement’s newest star, New York City congressional candidate Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old former bartender who defeated one of the most powerful House Democrats last month. Her victory fed a flame that was already beginning to burn brighter. The DSA’s paid membership has hovered around 6,000 in the years before Trump’s election, said Allie Cohn, a member of the group’s national political team. Last week, its paid membership hit 45,000 nationwide. READ MORE
“MEMBERS DURING PUBLIC MEETINGS OFTEN REFER TO EACH OTHER “COMRADES,” WEAR CLOTHING FEATURING SOCIALIST SYMBOLS LIKE THE ROSE AND PROMOTE AUTHORS SUCH AS KARL MARX.”
But now here’s the absolute kicker. Those tens of thousands of members in the Democratic Socialists of America are actually Marxists, as in Karl Marx. Karl Marx from Russia. From RUSSIA!! Let that thought sink in for a second. The very same Liberals who cry and scream each and every day for the crucifixion impeachment of Donald Trump because he is seen as ‘sympathetic towards Russia’ are actually card-carrying Marxists who desire to see America submit to Soviet Union-style rule.
The Democratic Socialists of America seek to bring an end to not only capitalism, but to an end of ‘straight, rich, English-speaking white men’ as well. They seek to do this by combining every type of splinter group and disaffected rabble-rousers into one, giant organism.
FROM THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA: DSA’s analysis of the interrelationships among many different forms of oppression under capitalism suggests that the only democratic socialist strategy capable of effective resistance to capitalism is one that links together antiracist, feminist, LGBTQ, labor, anti-ableist, and anti-ageist (as well as other) movements by “connecting the dots” between them. We consider each of these struggles to be mutually reinforcing, and believe that the success of one ultimately depends on the success of the others. Further, capitalists have consistently used appeals to white racism, and tensions at the intersection of gender and race, to maintain divisions among the working class. In order to overcome these divisions and forge deeper solidarities across the working class, it is essential that a disproportionately straight, white, male, English-speaking, mostly college-educated socialist organization such as DSA prioritize racial justice work and organize actively within struggles where racial, gender, class and sexual oppression intersect. We must do so with humility and take our lead from the organizations that organize and are led by poor and working-class people in those communities. READ MORE
On the surface, the whole thing is like a bad Mel Brooks movie. Only this is no screenplay, it’s real life. The good news for Republicans is that a strong rise of Democratic Socialism will only lead to increased support for Donald Trump.
But as far as the regular, old, KKK-starting Democratic Party is concerned, it’s nothing but trouble. Big trouble. Right here in River City.
The times they are a’changing…